Cultivating apparatus



April 1 1942- J. H. ROOKS I CULTIVATING APPARATU$ 2 Shees-Sheet 1 Filed March 6, 1941 gvwe/wbo b HBobks- John Patented Apr. 14, 1942 I; UNITED )STATES Firm azsopos j CULTIVATING APPALRLATGUS R Rooks, iig rala Application March 6, 1941, Serial No 382,0

6 Claims. 01, jgj .I I

I This inventionrelates to a cultivating apparatus, and it is an object of the invention to provide a device of this kind which is particularly adaptablefor use in boll weevil control.

It is also an object of the invention to pro: videa device of this kind which is light in weight and which is also of a character to permit the use ofdifierent types of ground working tools and wherein the device is so constructed as to be readily adjusted for use between differently spaced rows as for example between cotton rows or between rows of peanut vines.

Furthermore, it is an object of the invention to provide a device of this kind which with but slight adjustment and reassembling may be employed with equal facility in connection with cultivating plows, spring narrow teeth andkindred ground working elements. I a The invention consists in the details of con- I struction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts of my improved cultivating apparatus whereby certain important advantages are attained and the device rendered simpler, less expensive and otherwise more convenient and advantageous for I use, as will be hereinafter more fully setforth.

The novel features of my invention will hereinafter be definitely claimed.

- Inorder that my invention may be the better understood, I will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

t Figure 1 is a view in top plan of a cultivating apparatus constructed in accordance with a embodiment of my invention; I Figure 2 is a view in side elevation of the device as illustrated in Figure 1, the ground engaging member being shown in fragment;

Figure 3 is a detailed sectional View taken substantially on the line 3-3l of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a view, partly in section and partly in top plan, illustrating the apparatus for use with spring harrow teeth, the line of section being substantially on the line 4-4 ofFigure2;

Figure 5 is a detailed sectional viewtaken substantially on the line 5 -5 of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a detailedsectional view taken substantially on the line 66 of Figure 4; g Figure 7 is a fragmentary detailed sectional view with a portion in elevation illustrating the means as herein embodied for holding a spring tooth harrow in working position; and I Figure 8 is a fragmentary detailed sectional view on the line 8-8 of Figure '7, with certain of the partsinelevation. l I

- As l dis'closed: in the 'accompanying drawings, my improved apparatus comprises two elongated beams I of desired length andarranged side by sideflin desired spacedtrelation. .These beams I arealso substantially in parallelism and the opp'ositet'end portions thereof are connected by the spacing "rods Z J Each of these rods has its end portions removably insertible through the beams I and threading uponeach of these rods 2 at opposite sides of a beam I for clamping engage- I ment therewith are the holding nuts 3.

a Relative spacing of the beams I depends upon the character of the work with which the apparatus is to be employed. When used for cultivating adjacent rows of peanut vines these beams are about twenty-four inches apart but when used between adjacent rows of cotton they are spaced apartapproximately thirty-six inches.

The rods! may each be of a length for use in connection with'either of such spacings or, if preferred, a separaterod of required length may be employedlfor each ofthedifferent spacings of the beams I.- I

Resting from above upon eachof the beams l is a U-shaped memberthe intermediate or base portion 4 of which is of a length substan' tially equal to the length of the beam I. The

side arms 5 of the member M are of desired length and it is to be-stated that both of the members M are of duplicateconstruction.

' Bridgingthe space between the beams l and contacting from above with the intermediate portions 4 'of the members M are the cross beams G and 1. Thesebeams 6 and 1 are substantially in parallelism and are provided in their opposite end portions'withthe spaced openings 8 in which are adapted to be selectively inserted the holding bolts 9. These bolts 9 extend through the adjacent or underlying parts of the intermediate portions of the membersM and also through the end portions of the beams I. herein disclosed as being inserted from above and the lower extremities it thereof have threaded thereon the holding nuts I 0 whichcoact with the under faces of the beams -I. The openings 8 at eachendof the beams 6 and I are so positioned and spaced apart a distance whereby the beams I may be fastened thereto in accordance with the desired spacing of the beams I either for cultivation between adjacent'rows between rows of cotton. I I The upperlends of theside arms 5 of the memof peanut vines or bers M are outwardly and laterally disposed to provide short plates I I with which engage from it below the-opposite end portions of the top cross- These bolts 9 are I beams I 2. These cross beams [2 are secured to the plates l I by the bolts I4 which are selectively insertible through the spaced openings I5 in the end portions of the beams I2 as determined by the desired spacing of the bottom beams I.

The outer ends of the plates H are provided with the depending lugs I6 spaced from the adjacent upper end portions of the arms 5 a distance to snugly receive between said lugs l6 and the side arms 5 the upper cross beams I2. By this arrangement the shifting of the parts to either of the desired positions for spacing the beams l is materially facilitated.

Suitably anchored, as at H, to the central portion of the front cross beam 6 are the lower end portions of the elongated handles l8. These handles extend upwardly and rearwardly on an incline and contact from above with the rear cross beam 12 and clamped, as at l4, or otherwise securely connected to said rear cross beam 1 l2. As is clearly illustrated in Figure 1 of the drawings, these handles [8 are so positioned as to offer no interference or obstruction to the required relative spacing of the bottom beams I.

Resting from above upon the opposite end portions of the beams I2 and secured thereto by the bolts l9 or the like are the rear portions of the shafts 20. These shafts in advance of the front cross beam l2, but in relatively close proximity thereto, are connected by a cross member 2|. This cross member 2|, as herein disclosed, is secured to the shafts 20 by a conventional bolt 22.

The bottom beams I are adapted to have secured thereto the desired ground working implements. In the present embodiment of my invention these beams l at the rear parts thereof carry the cultivating plows P preferably of a type as comprised in Patent 412,087,118 dated July 13, 1937, and which plow is particularly advantageous in combating boll weevils.

As illustrated in Figures 4 to 8 of the drawings the apparatus is disclosed in an assembly wherein spring tooth harrows are employed in lieu of the plows P. In this particular assembly the beams I, as comprised in Figures 1 to 3, are omitted and the bolts 9 are directed through the cross beams 6 and I and through the underlying parts of the intermediate or base portions 4 of the members M. These bolts 9 are also disposed downwardly through the blocks 22 underlying the portions 4 of the member M and clamped tightly thereagainst by the conventional nuts 23 threading upon the bolts!) below the blocks 22 and which, as herein disclosed, have direct coaction with the wear caps or plates 24 underlying the bottom surfaces of the applied blocks 22.

The faces of the blocks 22 contacting the under surfaces of the portions 4 of the members M are provided thereacross with a groove or channel 25 and at one side of the channel with a depending pocket or recess 26. Each of these channels 25 and pockets or recesses 26 snugly receives a portion of a harrow bar 21 herein disclosed as in the form of an angle iron. By this means it is believed to be readily apparent that a harrow bar is effectively and securely maintained in a desired position and with the harrow bar disposed in a direction substantially at right angles to the line of travel of the apparatus.

As herein disclosed, the bars 21 are two in number, and the bars 21 may also be selectively adjusted one with respect to the other within certain limits, depending upon in which of the spaced openings 28 of the portions 4 of the members M the bolts 9 may be inserted.

The harrow teeth 30 are of any preferred type and are secured in any well-known manner to the bars 21 as requirements of practice may prefer. In Figures 4 and 5 these teeth 30 are illustrated as being so positioned as to cultivate two plant rows at a time.

From the foregoing description it is thought to be obvious that a cultivating apparatus constructed in accordance with my invention is particularly well adapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility with which it may be assembled and operated.

I claim:

1. A cultivating apparatus comprising a pair of spaced and substantially parallel bottom beams to which ground working implements are to be attached, cross beams bridging the space between the bottom beams, means for detachably connecting the cross beams to the bottom beams, U-shaped members mounted upon the bottom beams, the base portions of said members extending between the bottom beams and cross beams, the means for connecting the bottom beams and cross beams also holding the U-shaped members in position, top cross beams, means for securing the same to the upper extremities of the side arms of the U-shaped members, handle members secured to the forward lower cross beam and to the rear upper cross beam, shafts, and means for securing the rear portions of the shafts to the upper cross beams.

2. A cultivating apparatus comprising a pair of spaced and substantially parallel bottom beams to which ground working implements are to be attached, cross beams bridging the space etween the bottom beams, means for detachaly connecting the cross beams to the bottom beams, U-shaped members mounted upon the bottom beams, the base portions of said members extending between the bottom beams and cross beams, the means for connecting the bottom beams and cross beams also holding the U-shaped members in position, top cross beams, means for securing the same to the upper extremities of the side arms of the Ushaped members, handle members secured to the forward lower cross beam and to the rear upper cross beam, shafts, and means for securing the rear portions of the shafts to the upper cross beams, the upper end portions of the side arms of the U-shaped members being provided with outwardly disposed plates to overlie the upper cross beams, said plates having depending lugs to overlie the outer side faces of the upper cross beams, the means for securing the upper cross beams to the side arms comprising bolts insertible through the upper cross beams and the plates.

3. A cultivating apparatus comprising a pair of spaced and substantially parallel bottom beams to which ground working implements are to be attached, cross beams bridging the space between the bottom beams, means for detachably connecting the cross beams to the bottom beams, U-shaped members mounted upon the bottom beams, the base portions of said members extending between the bottom beams and cross beams also holding the U-shaped members in position, top cross beams, means for securing the same to the upper extremities of the side arms of the U-shaped members, handle members secured to the forward lower cross beam and to the rear upper cross beam, shafts, means for securing the rear portions of the shafts to the upper cross beams, and spacing rods interposed between and connecting the opposite end portions of the bottom beams.

4. A cultivating apparatus comprising a pair of substantially U-shaped side members, transverse beams interposed between and connecting the base portions of the side members, top cross beams, means for securing said top beams to the upper extremities ,of the side arms of the U- shaped members, handle members secured to the forward lower cross member and to the rear upper cross member, draft rigging secured to the upper cross beams, and ground working memupper cross member, draft rigging secured to the upper cross beams, a tooth harrow including a bar and means for anchoring the bar of the harrow to the side members with said bar bridging the space between the side members.

6. A cultivating apparatus comprising a pair of substantially U-shapedside members, transverse beams interposed between and connecting the base portions of the side members, top cross beams, means for securing said top beams to the upper extremities V of the side arms of the U-shaped members, handle members secured to the forward lower cross member and to the rear upper cross member, draft rigging secured to the upper cross beams, a tooth harrow including a lbar, said bar being of a length to bridge the a space between the base portions of the side members and to extend thereacross and means for detachably securing said bar to said basepor- 20 tions of the side members.

, JOHN H. RooK s; 

